When should I consider seeking fertility services?

Since the majority of women become pregnant
within one year of having unprotected intercourse,
most couples or individuals are advised to try to
conceive on their own for a year before beginning
fertility testing. For women over 35, those with known
medical problems that might affect fertility (such as
polycystic ovarian disease or pituitary tumors), or
women who are attempting to get pregnant through
artificial insemination, earlier testing may be
appropriate. It is important that both partners be
tested initially to carefully assess the extent of the
fertility problems.

Why should I choose UCSF?

A compassionate and understanding team that
contributes to your well-being, a sense of empowerment
and the confidence you desire during your fertility
journey are important factors to consider when
choosing a fertility program. At the UCSF Center for
Reproductive Health, we are proud to provide you with
this reassurance, together with solid experience,
expertise and the most up-to-date treatments from a
university-based program in a private, comfortable
setting.

Developing a partnership is the foundation of our
program because we believe that couples and
individuals need to fully understand their
reproductive potential and how it affects choices. Our
board-certified, interdisciplinary team works closely
with you to educate you about your condition and care
every step of the way. We share our decision-making
process with you so that together we can make the best
choices to achieve a successful pregnancy. Because
each patient is unique, treatments are tailored to
meet your individual needs and specific situation, not
a standard formula.

What can you tell me about your
doctors and staff?

Our physicians are all double
board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and
obstetrics/gynecology which means they completed
additional training to become specialists in
fertility. They work as a team and collaborate on
cases so they can weigh in together to determine
what’s best for you. Some of them have even had
infertility treatments themselves, so they really get
it! Our web site lists all of our physicians and
staff and some information about their background.

What are your success
rates?

We pride ourselves on individualization in care and recognize each case is unique. We are very proud of our success rates at UCSF. Our ultimate goal is to help couples build families by helping our patients become parents. For a detailed explanation of our rates and how to evaluate them, please review our Success Rates section on our web site.

Do you accept the insurance I
have?

We accept insurance from many payors. Since each insurance plan is different, often the most
direct route to answer this question is to call your
insurance provider. They will be able to tell you if
they cover fertility services and the benefit amount.
We are happy to discuss your options with you. Please
call us to check if we contract with your insurance company or for any other information at (415) 353-7636.

Are your doctors Brown and Toland or
Hill Physicians?

UCSF physicians are part of Hill Physicians
Medical Group but accept authorizations from Brown and
Toland physicians and all other physicians.

Where are you located?

At the UCSF Women's Health Center at 2356 Sutter Street, 7th floor, in San Francisco.

Can I meet your team before I choose
UCSF?

We offer a free monthly evening information
seminar in San Francisco focused on assisted reproduction and IVF. Led by our
physicians and staff, these seminars provide an
opportunity for you to meet us, learn more about the
many options we offer and ask questions either in the
group or privately with our staff.
The seminar schedule can be found on our Web site at
www.ucsfivf.org.
Please call (415) 353-7475 and select Option 1 in order to reserve a seat.

Are you open for early morning
appointments and on weekends?

We make every effort to accommodate our
patients. The nature of an infertility practice is
that we see our patients 7 days a week. We are
available when your body needs our support.
Additionally, we know that your treatments might
require multiple appointments. To limit the
disruption to your work and life, we see those
patients requiring daily monitoring starting at 7:30
every morning so that you can get back to your life as
quickly as possible.

How much does a typical IVF cycle
cost?

Costs are dependent on the type of
treatment that each person receives. Since each
person’s situation is unique we cannot predict the
exact price. We are more than happy to chat with you
about your needs and provide you with prices and
financing options. Please call to speak with one of
our financial counselors at (415) 353-7636.

What is covered in the base price of
an initial consultation?

In an initial consultation, our
board-certified physician reviews your records, takes
a thorough history and performs an ultrasound on the
woman so we can best understand your situation, avoid
redundant tests and devise together with you the best
care plan focused on success. The comprehensive
initial consultation lasts a full hour and sets the
stage for how we proceed.

What is the timeline for
IVF?

The most successful IVF is one that is
planned. We spend time prior to the IVF cycle
gathering all the information needed to assure the
treatment plan devised is most appropriate for each
individual patient/couple and that all controllable
factors are optimized. Once the protocol is selected,
the timeline is typically 4-6 weeks. The last two
weeks are the most intensive with frequent office
visits and procedures. And, the hardest part of an
IVF treatment – the two after the procedure is over –
waiting for the results! This is a time when it’s
important to really take care of yourself and knowing
it will be stressful allows you to be most prepared.

What needs to be done before I
discuss further options with the specialist by the
female and male partners?

It is not necessary to have any testing
before you visit our Center. During an initial
consultation for either the man or woman or both, we
can review any previous testing, your medical history
and determine next steps. Some patients come to us
having no prior fertility workups while others seek
out our care having received care elsewhere. We will
start with you where ever you are and work together to
determine the best possible plan for your situation
and needs.

What are your treatment options for
patients over 40?

At UCSF, 25% of our patients are over 40.
We understand the unique requirements of this special
group. Our team works with you to understand your
individual potential for success. We will perform IVF
for patients up to 45 years of age. It is important
for each patient to understand her own individual
potential for success. Our goal is to give you the
information you need, to optimize chances for success
by individualizing care, and then to allow you to make
the choice best for you in all circumstances.

What are treatment options for women
over 45?

The chances for pregnancy using your own
eggs, when over 45, are so low that we do not believe
it is in your best interest to proceed with treatment,
however, you may be an ideal candidate for oocyte
donation. It is very clear that the impact of age is
on the oocyte (egg) and not the uterus. Your ability
to carry a pregnancy is unaffected by age. We want to
first assure pregnancy is safe for you and your baby,
but then oocyte donation allows women over the age of
45 to experience the entire process of pregnancy, the
bonding that occurs with pregnancy, the ability to
breast feed and the potential to share the pregnancy
with your partner.

Do you help women who’ve already
tried IVF, have not conceived but want to try
again?

Absolutely. We treat many patients who
have had previous IVF cycle failures. One of our
specialties is the ability to evaluate and treat these
patients/couples. While some programs have “standard”
protocols, we recognize the unique aspects of each
patient and how different stimulations and protocols
may have differing effects. At UCSF, we pay
particular attention to your individual infertility
factors, how you’ve responded to prior cycles and
integrate the clinical and laboratory aspects of care
.

Do you have services for the LGBT
community, single parents and older parents?

Yes, all of the services we offer are
available to the LGBT community, single parents and
older parents. We have patients of all kinds and
situations who have successfully used our services.